6 week old puppy potty schedule?

Cindy W. · #1 1st March 2002, 07:31 AM

I am bringing home my new boxer puppy, "Bear" tomorrow afternoon. We will be driving 2.5 hours to pick him up...should be back late tomorrow evening. Well...this is neither here nor there. My question really was this: what can I expect in terms of how often I need to take my puppy outside? I know...after play, after meals, after naps, etc...but, what about during the night? should I just plan to get up every two or three hours and let him out, or should his whining/crying alert me to the time he needs to go? He will have his own little puppy-crate. Should I lead the way, or should he? I don't want him to soil his crate. Also, how old is a puppy before he can sleep all night without having to get outside to relieve himself? Thanks in advance for your answers! Cindy W.

***ONE MORE DAY TO WAIT...and then...BEAR!!!

BRIDGIT · #2 1st March 2002, 09:57 AM

I think you will have to get up a lot more since it is only 6 weeks old which is very young to be away from his mother and littermates. He will probably be scared and will cry while alone in a crate. I suggest keeping the crate in your bedroom so he is close and you will be able to comfort him with your smell and presence. Jasmine has never slept in a crate during the night since we got her at 8 weeks. She is only crated during the day. I don't suggest not crating at night, it just worked out for us. She does not get into trouble at night, just sleeps. She still gets up once a night sometimes to go potty. She will just scratch the door and it wakes me up. It doesn't bother me that she goes out sometimes at night it really depends on how much water she drinks that day. Good luck hopefully we can see some puppy pictures soon!!

jrodriguez42 · #3 1st March 2002, 10:37 AM

We also have him in bed with us at night and crate during the day. He was 6 weeks when we brought him home. The first 3-4 days he woke up 2-3 times during the night. He's only had one mess (pooh) in the crate while we were at work. At around 8 weeks he was sleeping through the night.
We tried the crate when we brought him home but he cried and cried and we decided he was just too little so we babied him for the first couple of weeks and now he is just spoiled. Got to love the Jackamoe.

Michelle F. · #4 2nd March 2002, 07:22 AM

Maybe I should be taking Kosmo out every hour. He is almost 7 weeks old and was doing well but we seem to be having alot of accidents the last few days (and he isn't even going to door). I know he is still a baby and maybe instead of waiting for signals from him (for now), I should just take the initiative. I always take him out after crate, naps, meals etc. but maybe should do it more during waking/playing time too. Thanks.

TO CINDY: Congratulations on Bear!! How is the little guy doing? Have fun and rest when you can--the first couple nights can be killers. I spent the first 4 on the couch so I could be near to his crate and the door and so I wouldn't miss any whining. Rest assured, I don't miss any of his potty crying now--he can definately make himself heard!

trudy · #5 4th March 2002, 11:45 AM

I would suggest in the beginning take him out, take him out and take him out somemore

He is just a bitty baby and has no idea where the heck he is supposed to do his business...never mind he should be alerting you to do his business. Potty training can be a very frustrating thing...we've just about turned the corner with Trudy, although I am not going to claim success just yet...

But think of it this the dog has to learn lots of things relating to where to do his business, first he has to realize the sensation of "oh I have to go" then he must hold it, alert you and go outside.

I would suggest that you take the reins and just keep taking him out and praising him when he does his business...also when you bring him out let him pee/poop whatever necessary and then right back in the house for now you want to associated going outside with going the bathroom only....not playtime or what have you...

As for at night, i set my alarm and brought Trudy out every 2 - 3 hours in the beginning, she makes it through the night now 98% of the time she is almost 5 months old....

And the last reason i would not wait until you get an "i need to go out" cue from your dog, is sometimes you won't get one...that was our problem, she knew she was to do her business outside, she just didn't know how to TELL me she had to go out. So now we have a bell on the door and she rings it when she wants to go outside, but that's a whole new thread!! Good Luck with Bear and keep us posted!

Michelle F. · #6 5th March 2002, 07:56 AM

Trudy- I know what you mean about not being able to give you a cue that they have to go out. My husband's aunt did the bell thing too with their golden. How did you teach that? I'm sure that I can find it on BW but I'm not sure what to search under. Thanks!